Arizona vs. Oregon Preview
EUGENE, OR – Oregon has another Pac-10 title within reach, but the bigger prize is still on the horizon. Overlooking two struggling opponents may be the biggest obstacle for the top-ranked Ducks.
LaMichael James and Darron Thomas look to help Oregon to a second consecutive conference championship as it hosts fading No. 20 Arizona on Friday night.
The Ducks (10-0, 7-0) lead the Pac-10 by one-half game on second-place Stanford, which it beat 52-31 on Oct. 2. However, Oregon has a game in hand, while the No. 7 Cardinal conclude their regular season against Oregon State on Saturday.
According to latest college football odds, oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made Oregon a 19.5-point spread favorites for Saturday’s game against Arizona. Current NCAA Public Betting Information shows that 75% of more than 2,005 bets for this game have been placed on Oregon –19.5.
A Ducks’ win Friday would clinch a second consecutive conference crown and successive appearance in the Rose Bowl.
Oregon, though, has bigger things in mind.
Winning its final two regular-season games should result in a trip to the BCS national championship game on Jan. 10. The Ducks’ regular-season finale at Oregon State in the annual Civil War rivalry game Dec. 4 may also provide a distraction, but James feels overlooking the Wildcats (7-3, 4-3) would be treacherous.
“When you look ahead you get beat. I think everybody knows that,” he said.
Oregon has plowed through its schedule, outscoring opponents by an average of 33.5 points. Another win will match its single-season record set in 2001 after the Ducks beat California 15-13 on Nov. 13.
The Ducks are ranked second in the nation with 542.2 total yards per game, and they’re first with an average of 50.7 points. Much of that is thanks to James and Thomas.
The sophomores have combined for 45 of Oregon’s 67 total touchdowns.
James is a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and possibly a Heisman Trophy finalist. The running back leads the conference with 1,422 rushing yards and 17 TDs while adding another on a pass from Thomas.
Thomas has completed 23 scoring tosses with six interceptions and his 153.0 passer rating is second in the Pac-10. He’s also a threat on the ground, ranking second on the team to James with 434 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
“They complement each other very well,” Arizona coach Mike Stoops said.
James, however, may be nursing an injury after appearing on crutches following the win over the Golden Bears. His status is unknown since coach Chip Kelly doesn’t discuss injuries.
The Ducks may be concerned with Arizona trying to slow down their up-tempo offense with gamesmanship tactics similar to how the Bears did.
Oregon was held to a season-low 317 total yards and one touchdown by Cal, which interrupted the Duck’s momentum by allegedly feigning injury. James doesn’t feel a weakness was exposed.
“No. We are human,” James said. “We put our pants on just like everybody else does. We are different because of our tempo. We practice and play hard. That’s the big key for us.”
Facing the Wildcats may be just what the Ducks need to re-establish their offensive supremacy. James had 117 yards on 19 carries to help Oregon beat Arizona 44-41 in double overtime on the road Nov. 21, 2009.
The Ducks won the last matchup at Autzen Stadium in November 2008, outlasting the Wildcats 55-45.
Arizona may be in danger of tumbling out of the Top 25 after giving up 426 rushing yards in consecutive losses that ended its chances to win the Pac-10.
“Our inability to stop the run consistently hurt us,” Stoops said after the Wildcats gave up 209 yards on the ground in a 24-21 loss to Southern California on Nov. 13.
Unlike Oregon, Arizona’s offense is based on a potent passing game which leads the Pac-10 at 300.6 yards per game.
Nick Foles is completing a conference-high 71.0 percent of his passes, and has thrown for 601 yards and four TDs with one interception in his last two games.
Juron Criner is Foles’ top target, making 64 catches for 982 yards and six scores. The junior has 431 yards and three touchdowns on 31 receptions over the last four games.
The duo was a major reason Arizona nearly upset then-No. 11 Oregon last season.
Foles completed 30 of 46 passes for 314 yards with four TDs and one interception, while Criner caught three of those scoring passes and finished with five receptions for 93 yards.
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